Helping Others and Helping Animals

From her parents, she learned kindness. From her heart, she learned to care about the homeless. Not only has Bernice Grassel built homes for Habitat for Humanity and served on the Phoenix Rescue Mission, she has overcome personal and family challenges in her own life and is happy when she can be a part of efforts to help others.

In fact, helping others comes naturally to Bernice; she's done that all her life. Animals, however, are her true "soft spot." She has been a monthly supporter of the ASPCA for many years and in 2014 she sponsored an orphaned baby elephant whose mother had been killed by poachers in Kenya. Bernice named him Lentilly because she likes lentils so much.

Bernice retired from being a real estate agent six years ago. Since that time, she found the new challenges, friends and joy she was looking for—all at the Phoenix Zoo.

"I did some soul searching," she says. "And my love of animals steered me to a new life. I became a volunteer and it changed everything for me. Being a volunteer is so rewarding."

She and her husband, Joe, recently became members of the Antler Society by designating a gift to the Zoo in their estate plan.

"The Phoenix Zoo is such a tremendous asset to young and old alike," adds Bernice. "We will do anything we can to keep it strong and growing, even after we are gone."

When she's not at the Zoo, she finds time for her other favorite activities: hiking, running and traveling. She and Joe have backpacked along the Inca Trail and Bernice has applied twice to be on the popular television show, "Survivor."

Every Wednesday, you can find Bernice at the Zoo's giraffe feeding deck. She adores being able to witness the indelible look of awe from guests as they feed nature's gentle giants for the first time; it's truly a remarkable and inspiring experience.

Fun. Beautiful. Exciting. The Phoenix Zoo and supporters like Bernice are there to make sure experiences like these are here for all to enjoy for decades to come. You can too by including the Zoo in your future plans. To learn more, contact Liz Toth at 602.286.3881 or ltoth@phoenixzoo.org.